Although a supportive surface crust reduces the likelihood of triggering an avalanche, use caution anywhere the crust does not exist or is thin and weak.
Storm slab avalanches remain possible in areas where the surface crust is unsupportive (does not hold your weight) or no surface crust exists.
No new avalanche activity has been reported since the recent warm and wet storm.
Numerous storm slab avalanches, ranging from size 1 to 3, were reported on Tuesday. These occurred on all aspects and elevation bands, and were primarily triggered naturally or by explosives. A few of these avalanches stepped down to a layer of surface hoar described in the snowpack summary.
Trace amounts of new snow are accumulating over a widespread melt–freeze crust, which varies in thickness and strength with elevation. Beneath this crust, the snow remains moist due to the recent warm and wet weather. Some alpine areas may remain crust-free.
A mid-November crust, with facets or surface hoar above it, is now buried 50 to 100 cm deep.
The lower snowpack is generally well settled and bonded.
Snowpack depth at treeline ranges from roughly 90 to 160 cm, but decreases quickly at lower elevations, leaving many below-treeline slopes without sufficient snow coverage to produce avalanches.
Friday Night
Cloudy. 4 to 5 cm of snow. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.
Saturday
Cloudy. 1 to 3 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 4 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 2100 m.
Monday
Cloudy. 25 to 40 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1900 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
